Evaluation of a Reference Work

                Evaluation of a Reference Work

The Resource Exploring Ancient Civilizations, published by Marshall Cavendish and White-Thompson Publishing, is the subject of my review. The authors and contributors of the document are published scholars and professors. The publication houses are reputable educational publishers who specialize in non-fiction education for children.

Marking Rubric for Reference Works

Exploring Ancient Civilizations (for Chilliwack Middle School, Grades 7-9)
Issue
Poor
Acceptable
Exceptional
Relevancy
(Is this the most current document available?
This resource has not been updated many years. The information is out of date and is no longer accurate.
This resource has not been updated in some time. Other resources exist with more up-to-date information on the topic, but the information remains accurate.  X
The resource is the most up to date on the subject and is constantly being updated to incorporate new information. Information is accurate
Currency
(How current is the resource? Does it requite updating? Is it a resource that requires updates every 5 years?)
More than ten years old. Requires immediate
Replacement.

X
Five years old, information is still current and does not require updates
The source was printed within the last year and does not require  updates. All information is current
Curricular Connections
(How much of the curriculum is covered in this resource? Does it cover different subjects, grades?)
Little to none of the subject matter is in-line with BC Curriculum.
 It will not be useful for planning lessons for any of the grade levels at the school.
Some areas of the resource are in-line with BC Curriculum. The source is pertinent for some subject matter and grade levels.
X
The content in this resource is completely in-line with BC Curriculum and covers a wide range of topics and grade levels
Use of Library Space
(Does it benefit the students to keep the resource? Are there similar resources?)
Rarely used, other sources are available with similar information that are easier to use (online databases)
X
The resource is used somewhat often (once a month)
Other resources exist that compliment this resource
Resource Is in high demand for students and in constant use.
There are no similar resources to compliment this resource
Purpose
(Does having the print resource enrich the students’ experience? Is it better than an online database? Does it meet the needs of the students?)
Resource is poorly organized and includes no images. It fails to capture the attention of readers. The writing is not suited to the age group for which it is designed.
Resource is somewhat well organized and contains some visual aids. The language is somewhat suitable for the age group.
Resource is very well organized, easy to navigate and engaging. It is written to suit the needs of the particular age group and can be understood by different ability levels. X


Curricular Connections

Exploring Ancient Civilizations is an encyclopaedic resource for grade 7 students, which contains 249 cross-referenced articles which cover the time span between 6,5000 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. It would be a helpful document for a large part of the Social Studies Curriculum.  
The curricular content it covers are as follows:
-    The “interactions and exchanges between past civilizations and cultures, including conflict, peace, trade, expansion, and migration.” (BC's New Curriculum)
-    The “features and characteristics of civilizations and factors that lead to their rise and fall”. (BC's New Curriculum)
-    They also include the “scientific, philosophical, and technological developments” (BC's New Curriculum) of ancient cultures.
-    These texts would also allow students to “characterize different time periods in history, including periods of progress and decline, and identify key turning points that marked periods of change” (BC's New Curriculum) by comparing the various civilizations listed in these encyclopedias.
-    In using information from the texts, students will be able to “determine which causes most influenced particular decisions, actions, or events, and assess their short- and long-term consequences,” (BC's New Curriculum) of ancient civilizations. 

Inside these 10 volumes is information about Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece, Rome and numerous other civilizations across Europe. Beyond looking at the civilizations themselves, these texts include information on specific people from the ancient world, such as Agamemnon, Moses, Pythagoras and Mark Anthony.
Essentially, the scope of these resources is very large, as it covers ancient civilizations from across the globe and is very comprehensive for its’ topic. While the scope of these texts is large, it is far smaller in comparison to the online encyclopedia.
This resource is completely in-line with Grade 7 curriculum, but would not be helpful for the other grades in the school, as Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum begins in the 7th Century.

Currency

Exploring Ancient Civilizations was published in 2004, making it already 14 years old. It is due to be replaced. With new information being added every year, it would be worthwhile to consider either purchasing the new addition or replacing the resource altogether.

Relevancy

This resource is not the most recent or most up-to-date on the subject of ancient civilizations. There are various other encyclopedias and online databases which have more current information. As it is fourteen years old, the publishers have released other additions and an online database on the same subject matter in 2007. However, in the school library learning commons at Chilliwack Middle School, it is the only resource about ancient civilizations that is available, therefore, it continues to be required by students and staff at the school.

Purpose

In reviewing this document, it is necessary to consider the format, which is a “vital element in evaluating encyclopedias for school library media centres.” (Riedling, Shake, & Houston 2013) Whether or not the resource is appropriate for school use is the main concern. These books are organized alphabetically, making them very easy to navigate for any student. The images and maps inside the book are beautiful and eye-catching, making these texts fun to peruse. It is written simply and is appropriate for the age level for which it is designed. A detailed Index is included, which also facilitates ease of use. Therefore, these texts fulfill their purpose, as educating students about many aspects of ancient civilizations from across the globe.
However, all of these aspects are also included and improved in the online database which I am suggesting as a replacement.

Use of Library Space

The school owns a series of textbooks called Ancient Worlds that are used daily by the Grade 7 teachers when teaching their unit on Ancient Civilizations. Therefore, the Exploring Ancient Civilizations encyclopedias are seldom used except for research projects. There are ten texts (eleven including the index), which take up a sizable amount of the reference section in the library. With the replacement of this document with an online database, it would free up space in the reference section. Considering that these texts only serve one grade level and one subject, they are not a good use of library space.

     Proposed Replacement

The proposed replacement is the Encyclopedia of Ancient Civilizations online (found at https://www.ancient.eu/). This resource can also be accessed for free, however, this would mean that advertising pop-ups would be visible to the reader. For fifty dollars a year, members can use the site without pop-ups and with additional educational resources. Should students or parents wish to access the website from their homes, they are able to do so free of charge. Reasoning behind proposed replacement is as follows:

Relevancy

This is the most all-encompassing encyclopedia on the subject of Ancient Civilizations available. It contains copious pertinent information about the ancient world, maps and the individuals who lived there. The site will continue to grow and change and every day, it is getting larger and covering more and more subject matter. The ancient years are just the beginning, for the “goal is to create the world’s leading general history resource online, covering all time periods of human history on a global scale.” Therefore, the resource will only become more useful to the school library with time. It is currently a very useful resource for grade 7 Social Studies curriculum and some aspects of grade 8 Social Studies curriculum in British Columbia.

Purpose

The website is extremely easy navigate and contains:
-  A searchable, alphabetical index which allows for easy navigation of the site and all it contains
-  A searchable timeline that indicates all major events occurring within any time parameter you chose
-  Maps of the ancient and modern world
-  Easy to follow exploration of the ancient world by clicking on maps to discover articles about particular places
-  Videos, links to other helpful resources and book suggestions on each topic.

It is also designed for students and the general population, as the language is simple and easy to understand, perfect for readings in middle school and up. The website is very visually appealing and easy to navigate. There are beautiful images and videos. Also, “every submission to the encyclopedia is carefully reviewed by [the] editorial team, making sure only the highest quality content is published to [the] site. [The] publication follows academic standards, but it is written in an easy-to-read manner with students and the general public in mind.” (Ancient History Encyclopedia) With the added benefits of this online encyclopedia, there are more uses for teachers. It completely fulfills its’ purpose of educating students about ancient civilizations.

 Currency

The encyclopedia contains the most up-to-date information about ancient history and is constantly being updated. The goal of the site is to continue adding resources on a consistent basis, so the site will remain current.

Curricular Connections

The scope of this encyclopedia is far larger than that of the Ancient Civilizations textbooks. Not only does it cover the same curriculum as Ancient Civilizations, but it also contains information that these texts do not, such as information regarding “anthropological origins of humans” (BC’s New Curriculum) and much more.  Each article includes links to other resources, recommended books on the subject and the bibliography. This allows students to find other resources, in order to assess “the credibility of multiple sources and the adequacy of evidence used to justify conclusions”. This is an important curricular competency in our new curriculum.
It also spans well into the 7th century, therefore covering some of the grade 8 Social Studies curriculum as well. Also, as the site continues to expand, there will be more and more content to draw from.

Efficient Use of Library Space

This resource will take up no space in the library learning commons.

Conclusion

While there are many merits to the Ancient Civilizations encyclopedias, it is time for a change in our school library. They are outdated and taking up precious space in our reference section.  For such a large set of encyclopedias, they only serve one grade and one subject matter. Replacing these texts with the online Ancient History Encyclopedia for free would not affect the budget. The scope of material covered in the online database is larger and more thorough than that of the texts and will continue to grow and be updated on a nearly constant basis. Written by scholars in a non-profit organization, the articles are from a trustworthy source and free of bias. The numerous other benefits listed above prove that there is no downside to replacing these encyclopedias.

         Works Cited

“Ancient History Encyclopedia.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, www.ancient.eu/.Building Student Success

BC's New Curriculum, curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/social-studies/7.

Riedling, Ann Marlow, et al. Reference skills for the school librarian: tools and tips. California, 2013.


Woolf, Alex and Steven Maddocks., and Richard Balkwill. Exploring Ancient Civilizations. Marshall Cavendish, 2004.

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